Flu hits Pelham High School hard

PELHAM - Pelham school officials notified the state health department after 90 students were absent from the high school last week, with many reportedly suffering flu-like symptoms.

School nurse Barbara Campbell said a high percentage of the absent students said they had either been diagnosed with the flu or had the telltale symptoms of high fever, coughing, chills and body aches.

Campbell said some of the sick students had temperatures of over 100 degrees.

Staff members and students alike have been urged to stay home for the day if they're not feeling well, and Campbell said she was encouraging anyone who is coughing or feeling ill while at school to come see her right away. For those who've already been diagnosed with the flu, they should stay home until they've been fever-free for at least 24-hours, she said.

This week the situation seems to be improving, Campbell said, which means folks have been listening to her advice.

On Wednesday, 55 students were reported absent, and Campbell said about two-thirds of those students reported flu-like symptoms.

"We're still seeing cases of the flu, though things are definitely improving," she said. "So we're not out of the woods yet with this flu season but seem to be heading in the right direction."

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